It's the end of an era for James Cameron's $200 million sci-fi epic

Director James Cameron is in a bit of a tough spot in his career, having devoted two decades to his three Avatar blockbusters. He was contemplating pivoting to a smaller drama not too long ago, but he eventually clarified that it wouldn’t be his immediate next project following Avatar: Fire and Ash. He intends to continue the blockbuster sci-fi franchise, but only if he can find a way to reduce costs on future installments, given that the second and third films cost around $400 million each. He has also handed two other sci-fi franchises over to other filmmakers. The more influential of the two, the Terminator franchise, has been on a constant decline. But it’s unlikely that either Cameron or the industry will give up on it. There’s also a chance that Cameron may revisit one of his passion projects, which he handed over to Robert Rodriguez some years ago.

The movie in question was released in 2019 to mixed reviews and an average box-office response. But it has developed a cult following in the years since, and this has prompted a renewed interest in producing a sequel. Cameron had wanted to make this movie for years, but his commitment to the Avatar franchise prevented him from giving it the attention it needed. Rodriguez stepped in, and delivered what eventually became his biggest hit. The movie grossed more than $400 million worldwide, but it cost a reported $200 million to produce, meaning that it just about broke even theatrically. Factoring in the revenue it must have earned through ancillary sources, the movie may well be in the black.

James Cameron's Passion Project Is Leaving Peacock

We’re talking, of course, about Alita: Battle Angel. Based on the manga of the same name, the film starred Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Eiza González, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Skrein, and others. Alita now holds a 61% critics’ score and a 91% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “Alita: Battle Angel's story struggles to keep up with its special effects, but fans of futuristic sci-fi action may still find themselves more than sufficiently entertained.” In 2025, while promoting Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron reaffirmed his commitment to the sequel. You can check the original film out on Peacock before it is removed from the platform on August 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.